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SAVE A LIFE TODAY! We need your help!

Original post made
by carrie manley, another community,
on Apr 19, 2008

Hi Everyone!
This is important--an event today in Palo Alto that could help save a life! We need your help today.

Jill Asher in Palo Alto is a good friend of mine. She is a former president of the Palo Alto/Menlo Park parents club and a founder of the popular Silicon Valley Moms Blog. Jill was a huge driving force in our community several years ago in response to Hurricane Katrina--she collected (literally) tons of donations, and then even went to Louisiana to make sure our donations went to those who needed help most urgently. Now, Jill is once again reaching out to help others--and the need is even more personal. Jill's mom is undergoing a bone marrow transplant in May. In caring for her own mom, Jill has come to meet many other patients who have not yet found their bone marrow match.
Maybe it's you.
Jill, true moral compass that she is, has organized a bone marrow registry drive today. It's quick, it's easy, it's truly painless. Jill has given so much to our community--please, do whatever you can to come to Palo Alto today, to take part in this registry drive. Here are the details:
Date: Today, Saturday, April 19th, 2008
Time: 9:00am to 3:30pm
Location: 96 Crescent Drive
Must be between the ages of 18 and 60 to be eligible for donation.

Here is Jill's own personal message to everyone out there, to come be part of this gathering today in Palo Alto.
Hello Friends and Community.

Ok, this is my last push and plea to help spread the word about a MARROW DRIVE that I have helped to organize, Saturday, April 19th.
This is extremely personal. My Mother has AML Leukemia and will be having a marrow transplant in May. However, as I have learned over the past few months, MOST people who have leukemia and need to have a transplant can NOT find an unrelated donor through the National Donor Marrow Registry. A cure or long term remission depends on a transplant.

Date: Saturday, April 19th, 2008
Time: 9:00am to 3:30pm
Location: 96 Crescent Drive
Must be between the ages of 18 and 60 to be eligible for donation.

Becoming a potential donor is simple and FAST. You will just need to allow the marrow registry to take a swab of your saliva. It is painless (and NO NEEDLES). If you are ever matched, you would need to have a blood withdrawal and agree to some on going tests... It is NOT as scary as it sounds... really!

Please visit here to learn more about the drive, why I am organizing it... and all the sites/blogs/companies encouraging our community to show up to our drive:Web Link

Can you help forward this to your personal email lists? To your company lists? To your friends and family? To anyone that you know in the bay area that would consider becoming a potential marrow donor.? We are making an EXTRA PLEA to minority and/or multi racial groups, including Hispanic, Asian, African American, American Indian, Indian or South Pacific Islanders. These groups have a HIGH NEED for donors, and very low numbers of donors in the database of the registry. Please... won't you show up or help me spread the word?

Thanks for listening to my ramble... I am just passionate about this cause and I desperately want to help.... won't you join me?

Posted by tell the truth
a resident of Menlo Park: Felton Gables
on Apr 22, 2008 at 3:43 pm

I have a good personal friend who is a physician, years ago when I was considering this, he told me unless the person is a very close friend or relative or you do not mind enduring INCREDIBLE pain...and a painful recovery, do not do this. Although it is a noble cause, the facts are never disclosed. Like I said, if you like pain go for it...otherwise leave it to someone else closer to the person.

Posted by been there
a resident of Portola Valley: other
on Apr 22, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Tell the truth hit the nail on the head. I have been a bone marrow donor...it is NOT the "pleasant experience" touted by MPworkingmom. It is NOT anything like donating blood. It is very uncomfortable and the healing after is not fun. Research this and learn for yourselves before getting into something as serious as this. Of course, if it is a family member or close personal friend...different decision all together.

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